Customer Reviews

Lost & Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962-1968)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Have you missed the tight, flawless harmonies of Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin and Otis Williams? Have you always felt cheated because there wasn't enough of Paul Williams' velvet baritone on Temptation albums after "Meet The Temptations?" To your way of thinking, is there no such thing as too much of the "often imitated but never duplicated," agile, crystal clear, effortless vocals of the premiere "roaming tenor" -- Eddie James Kendricks? Do you like it "Ruff"? Then beg, borrow, steal...but GET THIS CD! It fits in seamlessly with the other 8 albums by the "Classic Five"; the pictures are to die for -- (after all...it's the Tall, Tan, Talented, Teasin', Temptin' Temptations! ); and the liner notes will bring tears to your eyes! Mostly though, it's the music...which will leave you with only one thought... "What took you so long to release these gems and when can we get some MORE! (That's two thoughts...but you get the idea! ) DEFINITELY...NOT FOR FANS ONLY!

Great music! If these "Lost and Found" unreleased tunes had come out back in the sixties, there's no doubt in my mind many of them would be as loved as the classic Temptations tunes are! I particularly like Dinah, We'll Be Satisfied, Camouflage and Last One Out (which seems mistitled). The original Tempts (David, Eddie, Melvin, Paul and Otis) were a "one of a kind" quintet and this collection confirms their greatness once again. An absolute MUST for all Temptations fans. Fantastic!

The Lost And Found series has featured unreleased masters by the Four Tops (a complete debut album of standards in a wholly different style from their norm), Marvin Gaye, the Miracles and others, all demonstrating the same thing - that the Motown machine was a mighty force that threw up far more goodies than it could handle.
This Temptations collection is no exception to that rule. The period between 1962 and 1968 had them quickly rising to fame and fortune with the relatively stable line-up featuring Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams and David Ruffin (who joined in 1963) as lead and harmony tenor vocalists, with Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin adding baritone and bass.
After a few plays, some of the tracks here already sound so much a part of the Temptations repertoire that is almost impossible to believe that they have languished in a vault unheard for all this time, and one cannot escape the suspicion that some of these would have made better album tracks than those that made the final track-list. Perhaps some internal politics came into play; producer pressure, or a ruling from Berry Gordy on high.
There are two versions of one song written and produced by Berry Gordy. Camouflage is first heard in a recording from February 1962, the earliest recording on the disc, and then in a supercharged version from March 1967.
Three of the songs are familiar from other versions. You've Got To Earn It is known from Temptin' Temptations, but turns up here in an alternative fast version. Ain't Too Proud To Beg is one of their best known songs, a US Top Twenty hit in 1966, but minus the seductive but possibly inappropriate string section that fascinatingly adorns it here. Their magnificent signature tune, My Girl, closes the album in an on-stage version performed without ceremony just 10 days after its release as a single.
One star is lost as all but three have been mastered from mono mixes.
Maybe there is a parallel world where some of these tunes were singles and were part of the fabric of everyday life as they so easily could have been here

If you've never listened to The Temptations, then I recommend this album for you. If you are a Temptations fan, then you MUST order a copy of this album today! I was VERY impressed with this album. I even like most of these songs better than some of their most recognizible hits! You will want more after listening to this album. I particularly like tracks 1 through 5! The voices on this album include the original Temptations (Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, and Elbridge Bryant) and the "classic five" (all of the above except Elbridge Bryant, who was replaced by the late great David Ruffin). The original Tempt. songs are "Camouflage:version 1" (track 7), "My Pillow" (track 8), and "Tear Stained Letter" (track 9). The rest of the songs include David Ruffin's voice. My personal favorite song on this album is "Last One Out Is Brokenhearted" in which Paul Williams sings his heart out in his wonderful baritone voice. If you love the song "My Girl", then you are in for a real treat! "My Girl" was performed live at the Fox theatre in Detroit 10 days after it was recorded. You can her women cheering David on as he sings The Temptations signature song "My Girl". I wonder what was going through their minds that night? Also, if you love the song "Ain't To Proud To Beg", then you MUST hear the alternate version where strings are added to the music (after listening to this version of the song, it's hard for me to listen to the previously released version). "You've Got To Earn It" is very fast-paced that you can dance to this version. I also appreciate the writing talents of William "Smokey" Robinson on this album (and with Temptations' songs period)! It is hard to describe how wonderful this album is. It will leave you speechless and it will make you wish Motown would find more lost treasures from The Temptations. On a scale of 1-5, I give this album a 6!

I love this CD! I am a big Temptations fan, and this collection of never-released tunes is MORE proof that the Tempts were the greatest group that Motown ever produced. My biggest complaint about the group was that Paul Williams rarely was given leads...well, with L&F, Paul really gets his opportunity to shine...and shine, he does! Songs like "Last One Out Is Brokenhearted", "I Couldn't Think Of A Thing At All" and "Forever In My Heart" could have easily been hits, in my opinion...Another real gem is Eddie Kendricks' romantic lead on 1968's "Dinah". Simply BEAUTIFUL! I highly recommend this CD for die-hard Tempts fans, and if you're a new fan and can't seem to get enough after exhausting their other work, then you will find this package a pleasure to listen to!

I thought I had heard it all. After the mini-series, I got into a "zone" and collected all 57 Temptation albums (LPs). I thought - even with previously unreleased songs on the "Emperors of Soul" and other "Anthology" CDs - I had all the best of the Temps. BOY WAS I WRONG! After listening to "Lost and Found," it was like being reintroduced to the Temptations all over again. I loved it. Paul was alive and well and moved me to tears with "Last One Out..."...tremendous cut! This CD is a must for any and all Temps collectors. I hope they do a series. I will be in line - cash in hand!

This is the Classic Temptations at their best, it transports you back to the 60's when David Ruffin was the King of the lead singers. This is withoutt a doubt a showcase for the finest lineup of Temptations and their 3 leads. Its much stronger than some of their actual albums released back then. This CD is a must for Temptations fans and Motown mavens.

I just happened across this great cd and I'm glad I did. It contains alot of great songs which I had never heard. My personal favorite from this one is "Dinah" lead by my favorite Tempt, Eddie Kendricks. Every Tempts fan must add it to their collection!!!!!! Here's Hoping that Motown releases the Temptations "Taking Care of Business" and the Temptations singing with Supremes on cd real soon.

The breadth and depth of good music in the deepest recesses of Motown's vaults is astounding. Seeing the light of day for the first time in nearly 30 years, these songs are of a quality that does not warrant them sitting in the can for this long. I think this collection definitely shows the wealth of talent the Temptations had, particularly its three engagingly magnetic leads, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and David Ruffin. I hear nothing but hits on this collection and I see nothing but soul legends on the cover! A+

Great CD! The alternate versions are priceless! I wonder why some of these tracks didn't make it out of the can? "Dinah" is an excellent track as well as "What am I Gonna Do Without You". The late great Paul Williams is truly an underated singer on "Tear Stained Letter and "I Can't Think of a Thing At All". And you also get to hear Eddie Kendrick's raw tenor in "Camouflage Version 1". Truly a CD to put in your collection!